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We know Apple’s Macs and MacBooks are renowned for their reliability, but it’s not uncommon for users to need to unfreeze their Mac. If your MacBook is frozen, and you can’t click anything, here’s everything you need to know.
There are a lot of reasons Mac system freeze, but if your Mac keeps freezing, this can interrupt your workflow and cause you to lose progress on your work. Fortunately, there are several fixes you can try if your Mac keeps freezing or is unresponsive.
9 ways to unfreeze your Mac
Here are 9 solutions to help you troubleshoot why your Mac keeps freezing so that you can get back to work with no more delays.
Solution 1. Reset NVRAM
NVRAM stores some of your Mac settings. An issue or corruption to it can result in your Mac keeps freezing. Resetting the NVRAM can help you continue using your Mac with no more freezing.
To reset NVRAM, shut down your Mac and restart it while holding the Option + Command + P + R keys. Keep holding these keys until you hear the startup sound.
Solution 2. Clean your Mac fan
When there is dust building up on the fan, this can cause a Mac or MacBook to overheat. And overheating can freeze your Mac. So make sure you give your Mac regular cleanings with compressed air or a damp cloth to ensure it is running cool.
Solution 3. Update macOS and other software
Performing regular software updates and clearing out corrupted files from your system will help stop Mac from keeping freezing episodes.
Bugs can also make your Mac freeze randomly. Then, update your macOS and set it for automatic updates.
To update your macOS, go to System Preferences and click Software Update.
Solution 4. Restart your Mac
It sounds a bit strange, but several issues are due to booting problems. And you can easily solve this by simply restarting your Mac.
Solution 5. Scan for viruses and malware
Use antivirus software for Mac to scan and remove any malicious programs that may be slowing down your machine’s performance. Choose a powerful and updated antivirus to scan and delete any threat to your Mac.
Solution 6. Reduce startup items
Too many apps on the startup slow down your Mac and can make it freeze randomly.
Reduce the number of startup apps to fix Mac keeps freezing.
Go to
System Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items
Remove everything in the list that isn’t necessary for your Mac to operate properly.
Solution 7. Close battery-consuming apps
Mac users can check which apps consume more of the battery and close them. Besides saving your Mac battery life, it can also stop your Mac from freezing issues.
Click on the battery icon in the Mac menu bar. Then, click on Spotlight under the using significant energy topic.
Close the battery-consuming apps to stop the Mac keeps freezing.
Solution 8. Free up storage space on your Mac
If your Mac is running out of storage space, it can cause a random freeze.
First, check if your Mac has enough space:
On macOS Ventura: Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage.
Earlier versions of macOS: Apple menu > About This Mac > Storage.
If there’s low storage space left, you can back up your files to Time Machine, iCloud, or an external hard drive.
After backing up your data, you can delete the files from your Mac to see if it stops freezing.
Solution 9. Contact data recovery service
If any of the above solutions worked, you should immediately ask for professional help as your Mac keeps freezing might be a serious issue.
SalvageData technicians can restore your Mac without violating the warranty and guaranteeing your data security. Contact our Mac-specialized recovery engineers and restore your files.
10 Reasons why your Mac keeps freezing
1. Low memory
Macs are designed to handle multiple tasks. But if there is not enough RAM or memory available for all the applications and processes you have running, your Mac can randomly freeze.
2. Overheating
Overheating MacBook can lead to more issues than making your Mac keep freezing. You must avoid using your MacBook on a bed, sofa, and other surfaces that can block the vents.
3. Software issues
Outdated software and corrupted files can cause Mac freezes randomly. As well as putting too much strain on the hardware components of the machine and preventing them from working properly.
4. Hard drive problems
A damaged or corrupted hard drive can cause problems with how efficiently your Mac operates, leading to freezing issues.
5. Viruses & malware
Viruses and other malicious programs can also slow down or even stop a Mac computer’s functionality altogether.
6. User error
Sometimes users make small mistakes that lead to the Mac keeping freezing issues.
Improper settings adjustments and incorrect use of commands, among others, can result in Mac freezing randomly.
7. Power problems
A sudden surge in power (like after a power outage or lightning strike) can damage internal parts of your Mac and make it freeze randomly.
8. Incompatible peripherals
If you’re connecting peripherals like external hard drives, flash drives, or printers that are not Mac-compatible, then they could be causing Mac freezing issues.
9. Corrupted System Preferences
Mac system preferences control how the computer works. If they become corrupted, it can lead to all sorts of unexpected behaviors, including Mac keeps freezing.
10. Physical damage
If there is physical damage to the Mac, like broken components or liquid spills, this can cause freezing as well or even lead to a dead MacBook.
Physical damage to the hard drive, such as a water-damaged MacBook, requires professional assistance. Contact a MacBook data recovery service to guarantee your data back.
TL; DR: There are 9 expert-approved solutions to unfreeze your MacBook even if your mac keeps freezing randomly. This happens for several reasons, and if you’re concerned about your data, you can request a free in-lab evaluation with SalvageData.